Chester



(NoModeL) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. B. G. A. (JANET.

GUN CARRIAGE.

Patented Apr. 15, 1890 ZZZ/626307? (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. B. G. A. (JANET.

GUN GARRIAGE.

No. 425,656. Patented Apr. 15, 18-90.

ngzl

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. B. G. A. GANET.

GUN CARRIAGE.

No. 425,656. Patented Ap1n'15', 1890.

UNITED STATES ATENT rien.

JEAN BAPTISTE GUSTAVE ADOLPHE CANET, OF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO SIR JOSEPH \VHITVVORTH d: 00., (LIMITEI),) OF MAN- CHESTER, ENGLAND.

G U N-CARRIAG E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,656, dated April 15, 1890.

Application filed July 7, 1888. Serial No. 279,250. (No model.) Patented in France March 6, 1886, No. 174,597, and in England July 9, 1887,1Io. 9,686-

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JEANBAPTISTE Gos- TAVE ADOLPHE CANET, engineer, a citizen of the Republic of France, and a resident of Paris, France, have invented new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Gun Oarriages or Mountings, (for which I have obtained patents in Great Britain, No. 9,686, dated July 9,1887, and in France, No.17-l,507,

dated March 6, 1886,) of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to gun carriages or mountings for either land or sea service.

An important feature of thesaid invention is the construction of a gun carriage or mounting with a rocking arm or lever on which the gun is secured, so that in recoiling androtnrning to the firing position it moves with the said lever about the fulcrum or pivot thereof without changing its position relatively thereto, and which is arranged in com-- bination with brake and reeuperator apparatus, as and for the purposes hereinafter ex- 2 5 plained.

Another feature of my said invention is the provision for elevating and depressing the gun by adjusting the fulcrum-pin or pivot-pin of the said-rocking lever.

My said invention, moreover, comprises other improvements, hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawingsl have shown how my said invention may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal central section of one form of my improved gun mounting with the gun in a horizontal position, some of the parts being shown in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the said mounting; and Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal central section thereof with the gun at its greatest angle of elevation, some of the parts being shown in side elevation.

Like letters indicate corresponding 5 throughout the drawings.

A is a base-plate or racer,which serves also as a pivot.

1' is a platform or turn-table, which is supported upon the said base-plate or racer by parts means of rollers O, fitted to rotateupon pins O, fixed in the said platform or turn-table,

or by means of a circular series of balls or otherwise. A strong screw-shaft D is fitted to rotate in bearings I) D formed with or firmly attached to the platform or turn-table 1 This screw-shaft is provided with ahandwheel 1), whereby it may be rotated for the purpose hereinafter specified, endwise travel or movement of the said screw-shaft being prevented by fixed collars or shoulders D or by a tlu'ust-bearing or by other suitable means. To the said screw-shaft D is fitted a nut E, supported upon an inclined plane or surface 13 on the platform 13 in guides B*, Fig. 2,inwhich it slides when the said screwshaft is rotated.

The gun F is supported and held by its trunnions in the upper or outer end of a rocking lever G, the fulcrum-pin or pivot-pin II of which is carried by the slidiugnut E. The 0 gun rests in a cradle or transom G, forming a part of the lever G, or is otherwise so arranged that the said gun and lever will move together while maintaining the same position relatively to each otherthat is to say, in its recoil and in its return to the firing position the gun will move with the lever about the fulcrum or pivot 11 without angular movement relatively to the said lever, as hereinafter described.

I is the cylinder of the hydraulic brake apparatus, which cylinder is provided with trunnions I, whereby it is mounted in bearings B in. a frame or standards B formed with or firmly attached to the platform or turn-table B. The said cylinder is therefore free to rock or oscillate as and for the purpose hereinafter specified. The cylinder I has a piston 1 the rod I of which is jointed or pivoted at 1* to the rocking lever G. The said braKe has combined with it recuperator apparatus for returning the gun to the firing position after its recoil. This recuperator apparatus consists of a spring J, preferably a so-callcd llellcville spring, which i i closed in a cylinder or casing J, formed with or firmly attached to the cylinder I, and through which is passed a rod J arranged to act upon and be acted upon by the said spring through the mediu-mof a disk or washer J 3 and locking-nuts J J or other suitable devices. The said rod J 2 is coupled or connected by means of a link J 6 to the rocking lever G. The said brake apparatus is preferably so constructed that it will serve as a hydraulicbuiferforpreventingordiminishing shock or concussion at the termination of the recoil or return movement of the gun like those described in the specification of another application for Letters Patent of the United States filed by me.

' The platform B is provided with one or more hooks or clips K, which engage with a flange A on the base-plate or racer A and prevent tilting of the said platform. The

said platform can be rotated to train or traverse the gun by any suitable means. A claw L is pivoted at L to a bracket formed with or firmly attached to the said platform, and is adapted to grip 'or bear upon the flange A of the base-plate or racer A. This claw is provided with a socket L* for the reception of a lever L whereby sufficient pressure may be exerted upon the flange A to hold the frame or platform B in any position to which it may be adjusted, and thus prevent horizontal movement of the gun while firing. This lever may also be used for training the un.

b L is a pin, which may be secured to the base-plate A by means of a chain L or other-.

wise, and which, when the gun is housed, is to be inserted in a hole in the said base-plate and into a corresponding hole in the turntable B for the purpose of preventing accidental movement or displacement of the gun by rotation of the .turn-tablefor example, during the rolling or pitching of a ship or vessel on the deck of which the gun is mounted.

The claw L and the flange A of the baseplate A are sometimes provided with teeth or serrations, or are otherwise roughened to facilitate the holding of the platform or turntable in position by means of the said claw.

When the gun recoils, it turns (or tends to turn) with the rocking lever G in a vertical plane upon or about the pivot or fulcrum II, the recoil movement being resisted and its amplitude limited by the hydraulic brake. In this recoil movement the brake and recuperator apparatus turns upon or about the trunnions I, and thus adapts itself to the angular changes of position of the rocking lever. The spring J in the recuperator-cylinder J is, moreover, compressed, so that at the termination of the said recoil movement the said spring will react to return the gun to the iiring position. Throughout the recoil and return movement the gun, as above stated, retains its position relativclyto the rocking lever-that. is to say, itdoes not turn upon or about lts trunnions. The vertical pointing or elevation of the gun is effected as l'ollowsthat is to say, by means of the handwhrel I) the screw-shaft l) is rotated to move the sliding nut E endwise in either direction. The. rocking lever G, the gun, and the cylinders I J are thereby moved upon orabout the trunnions I of the hydraulic cylinder I in the same vertical plane in which the gun and lever move in the recoil and in the return to the firing position.

The position which the gun and rocking 1ever occupy when at the extreme limit of recoil are indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 1

and 3, those in Fig. 1 showing the limit of re- An important advantage of the above-described improved construction is that the chief effect which the recoil has upon the base-plate or racer is a simple horizontal or nearly horizontal stress or pressure transmittedto it through the fulcrum-pin II of the rocking lever G. Therefore my improved carriage or mounting is very advantageous .for use on light structures.

The turn-table or platform B and the frame thereon are usually arranged to support a mant'elet or shield for protecting the gunner and the gun-mounting,

It is obvious that the above-described apparatus can be somewhat modified without departing from the nature of the said invention. For instance, other apparatus might be substituted for the screw and sliding nut for adjusting the fulcrum-pin of the rocking lever to elevate or depress the gun. Other means'than those above described may be employed for training or traversing the gun and for retaining the samein any position to which it may be adjusted and preventing accidental movement or displacement of the gun when housed. Any well-known or suitable brake apparatus may be substituted for that hereinbefore referred to. Other suitable springs may be substituted for the Belleville disks shown in the drawings, or a reeupcrator operating by'the compression and expansion of air may be used for returning the gun to the firing position after its recoil. Moreover, although I have shown in the drawings a gun provided with trunnions, it is evident that the rocking lever may be adapted for holding a gun without trnnnions.

\Vhat I claim is Y 1. In a gun-mounting, the combination of a rocking armor lever in which the gun is supported, a pivot or fulcrum about which the said lever turns with the gun in a vertical plane, and an adjusting device for moving the said pivot or fulcrum in an inclined path: in the same vertical plane, for the purpose above specified.

2. In a gun-mounting, the combination of a rocking arm or lever in the upper end of which the gun is supported, a pivot or fulcrum at the lower end of the said lever about which the said lever turns with the gun in a vertical plane, and an adjusting-screw for moving the said pivot orfulcrum in an inclined path in the same vertical plane, for the purpose above specified.

3. In a gun-mounting, the combination of a rocking arm or lever the upper end of which is adapted to carry the gum-and which is arranged to turn in a vertical plane about a pivot or fulcrum at its lower end, the said pivot being adjustable in the same vertical plane, and elastic devices whereby the said arm or lever is coupled to the under carriage or turn-table, substantially as and for the purposes above specified.

4. In a gun-mounting, the combination of a block or screw-nut adjustable in a vertical plane upon an inclined surface on the under carriage or turn-table and a rocking arm or lever pivoted at its lower end to the. said block or nut and adapted to carry the gun in its upper end, substantially as and for the purpose above specified.

5. In a gun-mounting, the combination of a block or screw-nut adjustable in a vertical plane upon an inclined surface on the under carriage or turn-table, a rocking arm or lever pivoted at its lower end to the said block or nut and adapted to carry the gun in its upper end, and elastic devices connecting the said arm or lever at an intermediate point to the under carriage or turn-table, so that the gun without changing its angle relatively to the said lever will recoil and return to its firing position in the said vertical plane about the pivot or fulcrum of the said arm or lever, substantially as described.

(3. In a gun-mounting; the combination of a screw-nut arranged to slide in a vertical plane upon an inclined surface on the under carriage or turn-table, a screw-shaft working in the said nut and fitted to rotate but restrained from endwise motion in hearings in the said under carriage or turn-table, and a rocking arm or lever pivoted at its lower end to the said nut and adapted to carry the gun in its upper end, substantially as and for the purposes above specified.

. 7. In a gun-mounting, the combination of a screw-nut arranged to slide in a vertical plane upon an inclined surface on the under carriage or turn-table, a screw-shaft working in the said nut and fitted to rotate but restrained from endwise motion in hearings in the said under carriage or turn-table, a rocking arm or lever pivoted at its lower end to the said nut and adapted to carry the gun. in its upper end, and elastic devices connecting the said arm or lever at anintermediatc point to the under carriage or turn-table, substantially as and for the purposes above specified.

8. In a gun-mounting, the combination, with a rocking arm or lever adapted to carry the gun in its upper end and pivoted at its lower end to a screw-nut adjustable in a vertical plane upon an inclined surface on the under carriage or turn-table, of a hydraulic recoil-brake the cylinder of which is supported by trunnions in bearings in the under carriage or turn-table and the piston-rod of which is coupled to the said rocking arm or lever, substantially as and for the purposes above specified.

9. In a gun-mounting, the combination,

with a rocking arm or lever adapted to carry the gun and pivoted to a block or screw-nut adjustable in a vertical plane upon an inclined surface on the under carriage or turntable, of a hydraulic recoil-brake coupled to the said rocking arm or lever and to the under carriage or turn-table, and an elastic device, also coupled to the said rocking arm or lever and to the under carriage or turntable, substantially as and for the purposes above specified.

10. In a gun-mounting, the combination, with a rocking arm or lever adapted to carry the gun in its upper end and pivoted at its lower end to a screw-nut adjustable in a vertical plane upon an inclined surface on the under carriage or turn-table, of a recuperator comprising a boX or cylinder arranged to turn about trunnions held in bearings in the under carriage or tur/n-table, a rod coupled to the said rocking lever, and a spring inelosed in the said box or cylinder-and bearing against one end thereof and against a shoulder, collar, or disk on the said rod, substantially as and for the purposes above specified.

11. In a gun-mounting, the combination, with a rocking arm or lever adapted to carry the gun and pivoted to a screw-nut adjustable in a vertical plane upon an inclined surface on the under carriage or turn-table, of a hydraulic recoil-brake the cylinder of which is supported by trunnions in bearings in the under carriage or turn-table and the piston'rod of which iscoupled to the said rocking arm or lever, and a recuperator comprising a box or cylinder attached to the brake-cylinder, a rod which is coupled to the said rocking arm or lever and provided with a shoulder, collar, or disk, and a spring inelosed in the said box or cylinder and bearing against one end thereof and against the said shoulder, collar, or disk, all substantially as and for the purposes above specified.

12. The combination of an under carriage or turn-table, a rocking lever, a sliding nut to which the said lever is pivoted, a screwshaft carried in hearings in the said under carriage or turn-table for adjusting the said nut, a hydraulic brake thecylinder of which is mounted upon trunnions in bearings in the.

under carriage or turn-table and the pistonrod of which is coupled to the said rocking lever, and a reeuperator carried by the brakecylinder and comprising a rod acted upon by springs and coupled to the said rocking lever, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

13. The combination of the base-plate A, the under carriage or turn-table B, supported thereon through the medium of rollers, the screw-shaft D, carried in bearings on the under carriage or turn-table,- the nut E, fitted to the said screw-shaft and arranged to slide upon the inclined surface 13', the rocking lever G, pivoted to the said nut, and the brake I and recuperator J, supported by trunnions 1' upon the under carriage or turn-table and having their rods 1* J coupled to the said rocking lever, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

14. The combination of the base-plate A, the under carriage or turn-table B, support-ed thereon through the medium of rollers, the

screw-shaft I), carried in bearings on the undcr carriage or turn-table, the nut E, fitted to the said screw-shaft and arranged to slide upon the inclined surface B, the rocking lever G, pivoted to the said nut, the brake I and recuperator J, supported by trunnions I upon the under carriage or turn-table and having their rods I J 2 coupled to the said rocking lever, and the claw or clip L, pivoted at L to the under carriage or turn-table and adapted to receive the lever L all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JEAN ,BAPTISTE GUSTAVE ADOLPIIE Witnesses:

ROBT. M. IIOOPER, R. J. PRESTON. 

